News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Ellen, who suffers from an extremely rare mintochondrial disorder, has touched the hearts of people up and down the country and due to generous donations in Laois, Tom’s home town in Dublin and Lisa’s family in Dundalk, the family have raised enough money for the first round of stem cell treatment.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

It was certainly welcome news to hear on Wednesday last that 250 of the 650 jobs at Bank of America’s headquarters in Carrick-on-Shannon were saved “for the foreseeable future”, however there are serious concerns over the long-term future of the vast majority of jobs in the facility.

Shortly before lunch on March 21, Apollo Global Management made the announcement that it was officially beginning the process of acquiring the Irish loan book of Bank of America/MBNA. The loan books service some 200,000 customers in Ireland..
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

The lucky winner of nearly €500,000 ($620,000) in the EuroMillions Lottery has yet to come forward to claim their winnings.

The lucky €3 Quick Pick ticket was sold in Gleeson’s Spar on Henry Street, with the winner set to profit to the tune of €468,877 from last Tuesday week’s draw.

However, a spokesperson for the National Lottery in Dublin confirmed to the Limerick Leader that the ticket remains unclaimed.

“It is still unclaimed, which is very unusual because it is a substantial prize,” said a Lotto spokesperson.
(Source: Limerick Leader)
Longford

The state-of-the-art new fire station was officially opened in Edgeworthstown last week by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan in front of a large crowd of local people and elected representatives

Declan Kilcline, Chief Fire Officer, said the new fire station with its modern fire appliances will help secure a continued commitment by the Fire Service to the community of Edgeworthstown and its neighbouring parishes both in Longford and Westmeath.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

Shocked employees at the Vodafone Ireland call center in Dundalk are still being kept in the dark over their futures following the company’s announcement to close the center within the next six months and outsource jobs to a new provider in Newry.

Staff at the centre on the Ramparts Road were informed of the closure last Thursday afternoon at a brief meeting and a six week consultation process began last Monday.

However, there has been no clear indication of the full impact the announcement will have on the employees future working conditions at this stage.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo
Former Mayo TD and EU Commissioner, Padraig Flynn, has resigned from the Fianna Fáil party following the release of the Mahon Tribunal report which found he “wrongly and corruptly” sought a IR£50,000 donation from developer Tom Gilmartin.
Fianna Fáil headquarters confirmed that they received a letter of resignation submitted by Flynn just a few days before he was faced expulsion from the party.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

The death of one of the county's most prominent businessmen, Phonsie McEntagart, Navan, in a road collision in his native Dunshaughlin last Friday week, was the cause of widespread shock and sadness, Fr Stephen Kelly, CC, Navan, told mourners in the town's St Mary's Church last Monday morning.

The collision involving McEntagart's vehicle and a second car took place at the entrance to the Dunshaughlin Industrial Park on Friday afternoon, March 23 at around 12.20 pm. McEntagart was subsequently pronounced dead at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)
Monaghan

The Special Criminal Court has ordered the forfeiture of €20,000 ($27,000) offered as an independent surety for the bail of a man charged with IRA membership and firearms offences.

Eamon Lennon (35), Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, was charged with the possession of a firearm and membership of an unlawful organization on August 8th, 2010. His bail conditions forbid him to leave the jurisdiction but he was arrested in Northern Ireland and failed to appear before a scheduled court sitting in Dublin.
(Source: Irish Times)

Offaly

A District Court judge gave Garda (police) ten minutes last Monday to shut down a ‘shebeen’ and threatened to make a report to the Garda Ombudsman if it wasn’t done immediately.

At Edenderry District Court Judge John Coughlan said it was an absolute disgrace that The Long Bar, Edenderry had been trading without a license and continued to trade while its owner stood before him.
(Source: Offaly Express)
Roscommon

On the back of a mild winter damage to vehicles in Ireland as a result of potholes is down on last year according to the results of an AA Membership poll of over 20,000 people.